S.C. Deputy Succumbs to Injures Sustained in Fire

Maya T. Prabhu On May 19, 2013

Deputy Tim Causey

Photo credit: Horry County Sheriff's Office

An Horry County Sheriff's deputy, who worked doing security for three nights during the devastating fire at the Windsor Green community in Carolina Forest in March, died Sunday after a two-month hospital battle, police officials said.

Deputy Sheriff Timothy Causey was hospitalized at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence for smoke inhalation and acute respiratory failure shortly after the fire before being transferred to Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Doctors there diagnosed him with the H1N1 virus, a strain of the influenza virus often called swine flu, and put him into a medically induced coma.

Causey's official cause of death had not been released as of Sunday evening.

"It is with deep regret that we have to report that our friend and coworker, Deputy Sheriff Tim Causey, passed away this morning as has gone to be with the Lord," said the Horry County Sheriff's office through it's official Facebook page. "He passed away around 9 a.m. at the Medical University of South Carolina. Please pray for peace, strength and understanding for the Causey family."

Causey spent the night of March 16, hours after the fire, patrolling the property where fire destroyed 26 condominium buildings and displaced 190 people in the Carolina Forest area, Horry County Sheriff Sgt. Jeff Benton told The Sun News during a fundraising benefit for Causey last month. Causey worked about three nights doing security at the property and began to feel sick, but told Benton and others it was likely sinus issues.

Causey, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, worked about two years for the Horry County Sheriff's Office in the warrant division, Benton said.